Clippers’ coach Rivers says team won’t trade Paul, Griffin or Jordan

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Doc Rivers said Monday that he would not break up the Los Angeles Clippers’ big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and D’Andre Jordan during the offseason – regardless of any trade offers that may arise.

“I like our core and I like our bench, which was really good this year,” Rivers said three days after the Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.

“I think they all want to come back, and we’re going to make a strong effort to bring all our guys back. The good news about the free-agent guys who are opting out on their contracts – as they should because everyone knows what we can spend and what we can’t spend – I can’t find one who doesn’t want to be here.”

The Clippers are coming off their fourth consecutive season of 50 or more victories.

“We’re close, and we know that,” Rivers said. “We have a priority of trying to just keep making our team better. Obviously because of the injuries – Blake’s in particular – we literally don’t know what we could have done. Even during the playoffs, he still wasn’t a hundred percent.”

Griffin missed 41 games during the regular season …

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